Bronx

When her father died five years ago, there was no question that Jessica Johnson would take over the Bronx, NY- based Johnson Security Bureau, the company that had been in her family for more than 50 years.

At the time, she had a successful career in pharmaceutical sales, but the pull to ensure the family business did not close down was strong.

“The Bronx has one of the highest unemployment rates for the entire state of New York and some of the highest unemployment rates across the country,” Johnson said. “It was incumbent upon me and my brother to make a contribution back to the community that helped us.”